RELIGION

On first acquaintance China's religious life seems complicated and contradictory, with temples full of arcane ornaments and worshippers dividing their devotion between Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. In fact, the Chinese have traditionally treated religion as a practical feature of everyday life.

When you see worshippers in a temple, praying, lighting joss sticks or shaking fortune-sticks from a cannister, you can be fairly sure that they are asking the gods for such benefits as medical help, wealth, the birth of a son and good luck in exams. While many modern Chinese would deny any religious belief, most acknowledge the balancing power of yin and yang, the dark, feminine negative and the light, masculine positive forces that make it possible to accept the bad times along with the good.

Confucianism

Confucianism was developed from the teaching of the great thinker, Confucius (Kong Zi), who lived about 4000 years ago. His ethics teachings and beliefs greatly shaped Chinese cultures and society.

Daoism

Derived from ancient nature worship, Daoism was propagated by Lao Zi, a philosopher of the sixth century BC, who embraced the principles of yin and yang, but added a spirit world of immortal creatures who could intercede for devotees, if they were offered incence and burnt offerings.

Buddhism

The teachings of Buddhism a arrived in China via the Silk Road in the 2nd century BC, and found a ready public. It attracted scholars with its classical literature and artists with its high regard for sculpture and painting. It also drew those who wanted to renounce the world of the senses in remote monasteries and nunneries, where the faithful could spend his or her years in meditation and prayer.

Other Religions

Among other religions practiced in China, Islam has the greatest number of followers. They are mostly concentrated in the northwest regions of Xinjiang, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, although there are also Moslem communities in Xi’an, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Christianity never achieved a wide acceptance in China and appealed mostly to Westernized intellectuals. There are some three million Catholics in China. Most belong to the state-approved church, while a minority recognize the Pope as their leader. Protestant churches have also been making a come back, with large congregations.